Kenyatta Riddim – Rebel Liberation Records

Rebel Liberation Records was in a busy 2014 run when it cut the Kenyatta Riddim, a roots-conscious one-riddim set that leans on militant titles and devotional themes rather than big crossover hooks. Iwan’s “Gideon Boot” and Isiah Mentor’s title track give the project its sharpest edge, while cuts like Tony Anthony’s “Praise Him, ” Fifi Selah’s “Selassie Never Fail, ” and Ishanti Warrior’s “Give Thanks and Praise” keep the message locked in with a steady, chant-heavy feel over a warm, driving reggae pulse. The production sits in that mid-2010s digital-root zone that Rebel Liberation was pushing at the time, with the riddim carrying enough grit to let the vocals do the talking. The set runs 12 tracks deep, from Scata Bada and Xcapoon through to Buddaman and the closing praise songs.